Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The unforgiving minute: A synoptic history of the separation of church and state

A synoptic history of the Constitutional principle of the separation of church and state (updated for 2012*):

James Madison, 1791:Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.Thomas Jefferson, 1802:The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment guarantees Americans a wall of separation between church and state.John F. Kennedy, 1960: The separation of church and state is absolute. My church will not dictate my policy decisions.

Rep. Bart Stupack,2009: The separation of church and state is a fairy tale. My church will show up at the Capitol steps in a limo to dictate policy.

Rick Santorum, 2012:The separation of church and state is an abomination. "Earlier in my political career, I had the opportunity to read the speech [by JFK to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association in 1960], and I almost threw up."

Minute's up.

*Originally published in shorter form in 2009, when I thought the process had probably already reached its lowest point. Now it appears I may have stand ready for further revisions from time to time, as the exigencies of Republican electoral politics require it.

Nothstine is a writer, editor, political junkie, and renegade professor. Contact him here.

*Why p3?

"A good cause is often injured more by ill-timed efforts of its friends than by the arguments of its enemies. Persuasion, perseverance, and patience are the best advocates on questions depending on the will of others." -Thomas Jefferson (1826)